Feed hopper



Feb. 28, 1928.

W. T. DAVIS FEED HOPPER Z SheetS-Sheet Filed March 12, 1926 INVENTOR Feb. 28, 1928.

1,660,549 W. T. DAVIS FEED HOPPER Filed March 12. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 38 INVENTOR Patented Feb. 28, E92.

1 I WALTER r. navrs, or wnnnnme, wns'r vmemm, Assmnoa 'ro wrmnnme s'r- ING COMPANY, GINIA.

F WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA, A CORPORATION OF WEST ran-n norrna.

Application med March 12, 1926. Serial No. 94,362.

The present invention relates to the art of blank separating and feeding and more particularly to an improved hopper by means of which blanks of the desired nature may ration and feeding of the blanks as required.

This is not only due tothe tendency of the blanks to become distorted during handling, but also due to their tendency to build up or bridge the discharge opening, thereby preventing further feeding. This is particularly true of hoppers which operate about a vertical axis, although the condition may be minimized to some extent by the proper shaping of the side walls of the hopper.

It is one of the objects of the present in-: vention to provide a hopper Wh1Cl1.W1ll successively feed blanks of any desired nature without distortion thereof and at the speed required.

Another object of the invention is'to provide a hopper which is adjustable in such 0 manner that it may cooperate and feed blanks of different diameter at will, thereby increasing the utility of the same. Still another object of the invention is to provide a hopper which will serve to tumble 5 the blanks to some extent to thereby remove sharp edges while enabling the hopper to be refilled at will while it is in operation.

In the accompanying drawings there are shown for purposes of illustration only cer- 0 tain preferred embodiments of the present invention, it being. understood that the draw ings do not define the limits, of my invention as changes in the construction and o eration disclosed therein'may be made wit out departing either from the spirit ,of the invention or the scope of my broader claims.

In the drawmgs: Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, of a metal, working machine so having a hopper constructed in accordance with the present invention applied thereto; Fi re 2 is a side elevation of the hopper of Figure 1, the view being taken from the opposlte side of the hopper and showing a horizontal mounting therefor in placeof the vertical mounting of Figure 1; I Fi re 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line III'III of Figure 2 looking in thee direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the hopper $0 of Figures 1 and 2, the filling shoe being rergoved from one of the hopper sections; an

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line V.-V of Figure 3 looking in the direction, of the arrows. f

While a hopper constructed in accordance with the present invention is ada tablefor use with a variety of difierent mac ines, it is herein illustrated as being applied to a press and more particularly to an e'xtrusion press 4 of the character commonly used in the manufacture, for example, of collapsible tubes, the blanks being delivered by the hopper in such cases obviously havin the dimensions and characteristics require for theproduction of a tube. The utility of the invention, however, is not limited either with respect to the type of metal workin machine or the size or characteristics of the lanks supplied. The metal workin ,machine 2 has an operating shaft 3 which, in the event of a press, may be' the eccentric shaft which operates the plunger. Suitably secured to the shaft is an eccentric ,4 adapted to cooperate with a pitman 5 constituting a portion of the operating means for the blankfeed mechanism whereby such mechanism is operated in unison or'synchronism with the operation of the metal working machine.

Projecting laterally from the frame of the machine is a bracket 6 having mounted thereon a table 7 carrying bearings 8 for a horizontally extending shaft 9. This shaft 9 intermediate the bearings 8 which may project either vertically as shown in Figure 1 or horizontally asshown in Figures 2 and 3, carries a hopper section 10 and ahopper section 1.1. These sections are preferably of somewhat similar construction each embodying a central hub 12 and an end plate 13 from which the outwardly' converging side walls 14 extend. The section 10 may have its hub portion 12sprovided with set'screws 15 by means of which this section may be clamped in any desired position. Extending outwardly from the flange 16 in which the conical wall 14 of the section 10 termmates I are inwardly extending agitatintg and guidwhereby a predetermined stroke is imparted ing fingers 17, the fingers pre erably proto the pawl 26 for each rotation of the shaft 3.

jecting substantially radially of the hopper section as clearly shown in Figure 5. -After the section 10 has been secured in posltion, the section 11 may be clamped onto the shaft 9 in the desired spaced relation to the section 10 by means of the set screw 18, this set screw being accessible exterior Ly "of thehopper as.

is clearly apparent. The flange 19 on the section 11, corresponding to the flange 16, is preferably provided with recesses 20 adapted to receive the agitating and guiding 1 fingers 17 as clearly shown in' Figure 4 of the drawings. By reason of this construction, the space S left between the ad acent faces of the flanges 16 and 19 may beof any desired width, the-width'being preferably slightly greater than the thickness of the blanks B, indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2, being handled. This'necessitates the passage of the blanks from the hopper 1n an edgewise position, and permits the hopper to be adJusted as required for use with blanks of difierent dimensions.

Formed in the conical wall 14 of the section 10 is. a filling window21. ,It will be apparent that in order to permit the machine to be filled during operation of the hopper while preventing the blanks within the hopper from spilling out, special arrangements are required. Such operation is permitted by providing a filling shoe 22 of a shape to closely conform to the contour of the section 10 and more particularly the conical portion 14 thereof, the filling shoe v blanks between the trailing end carrying a feed chute 23. The feed chute 23 and the filling shoe 22 each has an opening substantially the same size as that of the opening 21, the rotation of the hopper bringing all of these 0 enings into registration at predetermined times, it being understood that the shoe 22 remains stationary. In order that an operator may know when the respective openings are in alignment, the section 11 may be provided at any desired point therein with suitable indicating'marks '24.

on these marks substantially coincide with the position of the-chute 23 blanks may be poured into the chute without danger of amming of the apparatus or cuttingof the of the feed opening 21 and the front end of the correspondmg opening in the shoe 22.

.figure into the ,bolts 36' For operating the hopper intermittently. m accor The parts are held in the position to which theyare moved by a holding pawl 30 normally urged into cooperative relation with the ratchet wheel by a spring 31.

As the hopper rotates the blanks are fed toward the center of the hopper due to the inclination of the walls of the hopper sections. In this position they are engaged by the agitating and guiding lingers 1'7 and separated in such manner that they flow individually into the space S between thesections. Preferably the hopper is'operated in a direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2 so that blanks in the space S are free to roll outwardly to theleft as viewed in this collecting and guiding space 32 formed on one side by a stationary plate 33, on the oppositeside by a similar plate 34 having Windows 35 therein and on the back by an adjustable curved guide 36. The guide 36 is preferably adjusted by means of the so as toprovide a space 32 having a width substantially equal to but slightly greater than the diameter of the blanks being handled. Throughout the remainder of the periphery of the hopper, the space S is effectively closed by a curved, closure plate 37 preventing any of the blanks from being discharged from the hopper until such blanks are in position to space 32. In this to roll down the space 32 filled up position the blanks tend fingers 17 and keep the to a point substantially colnciding with the horizontal axis of the enter the guiding blanks being handled. In this position the blanks are engaged by a pusher 39 and forced tothe right-into a position where they are engaged by the spring pressed retaining plate 40. A blank is held by this retaining plate until a second blank is pushed laterally in such manner as to discharge'the first and become itself retained by the plate- The pusher- 39 is operated in unison with the ratchet 25 by providinga link 41 connected at one end to the pin 27 and ,at its opposite end provided with aslot 42 adapted to receive the pin 43 extending vlaterally from one armsof a suitable bell crank lever 44. This bell crank lever ma be journaled on a pin 45 carried by the plate 33, and may have its opposite end provided with a pin 46 working in a slot 47 in the outer end of the pusher 39. The direction'of movement of the pusher may be controlled in any desired manner. as, .for example, by suitable guides 48. As the blanks are successively released by the plate 40, they roll down a chute 49 leading to any desired point of use.

In theevent a defective blank is delivered by the hopper, it is visible while positioned above the adjustable stop 38 and may be easily removed by stopping the rotation of the hopper and dropping the adjustable stop. Thereafter the apparatus may 'tinue in operation as required.

Certain advantages of the present invention arise from the provision of a hopper for blanks comprising adjustable sections adapted to provide a discharge opening therebetween and adjustable at will to vary the width of the discharge opening.

Other objects of the invention arise from COD- ' the provision of a hopper having a horizontal axis of rotation and prOVided with inwardly extendingagitating and guiding fingers adapted to direct the blanks toward a suitable discharge opening or openings properly positioned with respect thereto.

- 7 Further advantages of the invention arise the handling ability may be visually inspected.

I claim:

1. A feed hop r. comprising a shaft, relatively adjustable sections each carried by said shaft and providing a discharge spacetherebetween, and means for securing each of said sections to said. shaft.

2"; A feed hopper, comprising rotatable opposing sections having oppositely inclined walls, at least one-of said sections being adjustable to provide a.- discharge space hejustable to provide tween the sections, means for holtling' said sections in axial alinement during adjustment thereof and hopper means delivering into one'of said sections. 1 v

'3. A feed hopper, comprising rotatable opposing sections having oppositely inclined walls. atleast one of said sections being ada discharge space between the sections, and iding means cooperating with saiddisc arge space, said guiding means comprising inwardly extend-' ing agitating fingers rotatable with said sections.

4. A :feed hopper, comprising opposed hopper sections having a discharge space therebetweem'a curve guide adapted to receive blanks discharged. through said. space,

Lemme ripheral discharge gers carried by a 4 i i and means for adjusting said guide radially toward and from the axis of said sections to cooperate with blanks of different diameter.

5. A feed hopper, comprising rotatable opposed hop-per sections having a discharge space therebetween, a curved guide adapted to receive blanks discharged through said space during rotation of said sections, and means for adjusting said guide to cooperate with blanks of difierent diameter, one of said hopper sections being adjustable to vary the width of said discharge space to permit thev hopper to cooperate with blanks of different Widths.

6. A hopper for blank feeding, comprising a substantially horizontally disposed o erating member, opposed sections each irectly carried thereb and secured thereto, and providing, a disc large space in a plane substantially normal to the axis of said operating member, and guiding means for the blanks delivered by said sections.

7 A hopper for blank feeding, com rising a substantially horizontally disposec operating member, opposed sections each, directly carried thereby and secured thereto, and proa viding a discharge space in a plane substantially normal to the axis of said operating member, and guiding means for the blanks delivered by said sections, said guiding means being adjustable to permit the same to cooperate with blanks of difierent diameter.

8. A teed hopper, comprising a horizontally ositioned hopper section, means adjustab y cooperatingltherewith and supported independently t erect to rov1 de a pespace for lanks carried by said section, and guiding means cooperating with said discharge space. 9. A feed hopper, comprising a horizontally positioned hopper section, m ans adjustably cooperating therewith to provide a eripheral discharge space for blanks carried y said section, and'guiding means cooperating with said discharge space, said guiding means comprising inwardly extending finsaid hopper section. 10. A feed hopper, comprising a horizontally positioned hopper section, means adjustably cooperating therewith to provlde a peripheral discharge space for blanks carried by said section, and guidingmeans cooperat ng with said discharge space, said hopper section having a filling openin therein, and a filling shoe embracing sai section and constructed to permit filling of said section during operation thereof.

11. Blank feeding means, comprising a hopperhaving a substantially vertically arranged discharge opemng, and means for fcedin blanks to the interior of said hopper in a irection substantially parallel to the plane of said opemng.

i In

12. .Blank feeding means, comprising a rotating feed hopper having a substantially vertically disposed discharge opening, and a plurality of guiding fingers extending inwardl Y of said hopper and adapted to deliver lanks to said opening. 13. Blank feeding means, comprising a rotating feed hopper having a substantially vertically disposed discharge openin ,and a plurality of guiding fingers exten ing in- 7 wardly of said hopper and adapted to deadjusting the other of said opening to permit the liver blanks to said opening, said hopper embodying means for adjusting the width of ,rality of horizontally arranged oppositely disposed hopper sections,

means for deliver ing blanks to one of said sections, means for said sections independently of the first named section to provide a discharge space of variable width be-' tween the sections, and means for operating said sections in timed relation to the operation of said machine.

passage of blanks i 16; A feed hopper, compri independently supported relativel gil igstable 'sections providing a substantially vertically arranged discharge' opening therebetween, means for. rotating sa d sections, and

ing means permanently secured to said per and cooperating with said opening eflect the feeding of'blankstherethrou h ir respective of the relative adjustment 0 said sections.

17. Blank feeding means comprising a see-- tlonal hopper having a substantiall verticall arranged discharge opening between said sections, means for rotating said hopper, and a guiding finger cooperating with said opening, said guiding finger being carried entirely by one of the hopper sections.

18. Blank feeding means, compris' a shaft, relatively separable hopper sections each carried by said shaft and providing a discharge opening therebetween, and means cooperatin with one of said'secti'ons for effecting fee ing of blanks thereto in a direction substantially saidopening.

19. Blank feeding means,

parallel to the plane of shaft, and ablank feeding shoe embracing one of said, sections for fee to during rotation thereof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

comprising a 1 shaft, sections ad ustably carried by said 1 mg blanks there-' WALTER T. Dims. I 4 

